Shoe form



Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,977

W. C. RICHARDSON SHOE FORM Filed March 19, 1925 Will): rd BRIE/71:1 rdsnrr IHVE'HI'UT Affair-n55! Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

r 15 cm w r fl nt? die it VJILLARD G. RICHARDSON, 0F SA'UG-U'B, MTASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE FORM.

Application filed March 19, 1925. Serial No. 16,785.

My invention relates to shoe forms and has particular reference to a type l have now perfected, having high finish covering commonly ofv celluloid or other suitable sheet material.

In use, the tendency of such covering is to sever its adhesion starting at the edges and pulling away from the foundation, usually at the curved UOlUllOHS, this feature being med bridging, A further tendency of the covering is to spread the form at its portion to an extent detriment-alto its usefulness, so that, while with forms heretofore made it was essential merely to furnish an inner support guarding against collagse from outer pressure, as provided my Let ters Patent, Serial N umber 898,137, now becomes necessary to supply a flexible holding brace sufficient to avoid spreading of the form at the ball portion, yet adequately resisting outer pressure. Flexibility is required that the form while in use may tightly lit in shoes of slight manufacturing varia tion. Adjustability of the holding brace is also required that the form may be utilized for shoes of varying standard widths. In attaching braces, has heretofore been necessary but time consuming and difiicult, to place the rivets or otl er fastenings by vhich the brace is held to the form into and through a hole previously placed in the brace for tnis purpose. All of which has added materially to the cost of manufacture.

The objects of my invention are to furnish the stated requirements and overcome the stated dirficulties and tendencies; to reinforce the ball portion of the form at the points where the holding brace is attached; to provide an improved method of manufacture; and to provide the various other advantages 'and results made evident from the following specification.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by forming a shoe form foundation from wet sheet material by fitting the same over an ordinary last, lasting the same in position thereon, allowing the said material to dry on said last, thereafter trimming said foundation about the bottom edge so as to free the sheet material from the last about which it is shaped, then dipping the foundation in a hardening solution, then covering said foundation with sheet celluloid, first made pliable in a solution of alcohol, tightly shaping and fitting said celluloid about said form foundation so that it contacts at all points and hooking the edges thereof about the edges of said foundation, then allowing the celluloid to harden. Next securing to the sides of the ball portion of the covered form, an adjustable bridge of slightly tempered material by fastening means which clamp the form foundation and the finishing cover thereon at overlapping points. It Will be readily seen that the overlapping of the foundation by the finishing cover at the ball portion furnishes a triple ply to which the adjustable bridge is attached, thus affording a complete and efficient reinforcement, guarding against the bridge breaking away from its fastenings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of a snoe form with a section removed to show my improved brace in position. Figure 2 is a bottom view thereof. higure 3 is a cross sectional view of the form on the line A.A in Figure 2. Figure a is a perspective view showing the detail construction of my improved brace. In Figures 1, 2 and 3, shows the inner foundation. C is the finishing cover ap plied to the foundation l3 and hooked up around the edge as shown D in Figure 3. H shows therivets by means of which the supporting brace is secured to the form. In Figure i, E shows anchor sections secured to the brace i by the rivets H shows the relative position where the rivets H pierce the anchor sections This position is varied at the will and convenience of the operator or manufacturing requirements V'Vhile any suitable manufacturing mate rials may be employed, I prefer to utilize fiat pieces of ii or board for the form elation, celluloid for the finishing covering, slightly tempered steel for the holding brace, and fiber board for the anchor sections. It is evident that the anchor sections must be formed from easily penetrable material in order to avail the manufacturing benefits sulting from their use, that the rivets HI may be blindly placed without necessity of fitting the same into and through a prepared orifice.

The assembled brace shown in Figure 4 is conveniently manufactured during quiet periods in the industry and kept ready for instant use and convenient application to the forms as such forms come through the plant on order. The use of a machine in placing the rivets H vastly reduces time and expense in manufacture, this being made possible by the use of the anchor sections as described. The fastening of the adjustable bridge at a three ply point and hooking of the finishing cover about the edge of the foundation permanently holds the cover firmly in place throughout the life of the form, eliminating all tendency to sever itsadhesion and bridge.

The width of the form at its ball portion is,varied by spreading or closing the brace, this being accomplished by bending at F (see Figure 4), the spring temper being adaptable for such adjustment. In this con nection it will be observed that the arch formed by the bend at F is comparatively small and is remote from the inn-er sides and top of the shoe form, being centered in the bottom opening of the form and between the lower side edges of the latter whereby it is free to flex inwardly and outwardly for closing'and spreading the brace.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America:

1. A shoe form having a foundation of sheet material and a finishing cover attached thereto, said cover being hooked about the st ges of said foundation to preserve its adhesion thereto, in combination with an adjustable spring bridge spanning the ball portion of said form, the respective ends thereof being secured to the sides of said ball portion by fastening means which clamp and hold the form foundation, and finishing cover thereon.

2. A spring bridge for a shoe form comprising a pair of anchor sections respectively formed of a flat piece of fiber board, and a connecting spring of sli htly tempered steel having its ends secured to the said anchor sections and having its intermediate portion extending 1n an arch between the said sections.

trable material through which the attaching T 5 means may be blindly placed without th necessity of fitting the same into and through a prepared orifice and said strip being of a spring temper adapting it to be bent for spreading or closing the brace to vary the i- *idth of the form at its ball portion.

at. In combination, a shoe form having a bottom opening, and a spring brace spanning the said bottom opening at the ballportion of the said form and having anchor sections riveted to the form to secure the said brace thereto, said anchor sections and said shoe form being respectively composed 'of easily penetrable material to enable the holding rivets to be blindly placed so that the 'Tifi position of the anchor sections with respect to the form can be varied.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WILLARD o. Rrcr-mnnson. 

